Archive
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Oxford Samaritans celebrate 50th anniversary
The city’s branch of the charity organisation Samaritans is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The charity, which provides a confidential emotional support service, will celebrate at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour at the town hall in St Aldate’s on Wednesday
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Archdeacon for installation
The installation of the Rev Martin Gorick as Archdeacon of Oxford will take place at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, May 4, at 6pm. The Rev Gorick replaces the Venerable Julian Hubbard, and the Venerable Hedley Ringrose, who has been acting
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Chance for youngsters to get a taste of sport
Young people can try out different sports at free sessions every Friday. Those aged between 11 and 19 are welcome at the evenings from 7-9pm at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road, Oxford. There is a BoxFit session at 7pm and from
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Ex-pupil quizzes teacher over school report - 60 years on
SIXTY years is a long time to wait to confront your old teacher about a damning report card. But that’s exactly what 69-year-old Botley resident Maurice Belcher did at his school reunion on Friday. Mr Belcher took along his report card from Wheatley
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Bank security guard attacked by robbers in cash grab this afternoon
ROBBERS stole a "significant" amount of cash after attacking a security guard who was delivering the money to a bank in Oxford today. At around 3pm two men, one wearing a high visibility jacket, pulled the in-transit guard to the ground near a
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Groups can bid for cash grants
Community groups are being urged to bid for grants of up to £15,000 for projects such as new buildings or equipment. Applications opened for South Oxfordshire District Council’s Community Investment Fund yesterday and groups have until June 28
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Top academic award for psychology technician
An Oxford Brookes University academic has been recognised with a top award for her work in the university’s Department of Psychology. Emma McDonald was awarded the Psychology Technician of the Year Award by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) on
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Survey says districts among most desirable to live in
THE Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire are two of the most desirable districts to live in according to a new survey. In the Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey, the Vale came eighth and South Oxfordshire 10th out of 119 rural local
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Revellers fly the flag early for Saint George
IT MAY be St George’s Day today, but plenty of patriotic folk have been flying the flag early to mark England’s patron saint’s day. Many took advantage of the sunny weather at the weekend to celebrate. Around 1,000 peopl, waving red and white flags
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Firefighters tackle bin fire in city centre
A bin fire outside Oxford’s central Post Office in St Aldate’s is not being treated as arson. Firefighters put out the flames in the bin this afternoon. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Services were called to the incident at 4.14pm.
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Store gets £187k makeover
A COMMUNITY shop and Post Office in Bicester has reopened after a £187,000 makeover. The Co-op, in Bassett Avenue, which also houses a Post Office counter, was closed for six months. It has been fitted with new energy-saving lighting and fridges
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Teenager to face Atlantic rowing challenges
ROWING 3,000 miles across a vast ocean over 40 days is quite a challenge. But 16-year-old Eoin Hartwright is not fazed by the sleep deprivation, strong ocean currents and the exhausting physical work he will face during the journey from the Canary
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Pupils plant a forest to aid environment
IN JUST one-and-a-half hours, a group of children planted 120 new trees in an Oxfordshire woodland. Youngsters from Fritwell School took time out of the classroom to help plant the trees at Ardley Wood Quarry Field, off Somerton Road, Ardley with
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Cycle fest wheels out a great day for bike fans
ABINGDON market place was “buzzing with bikes” at Sunday’s Spring Cycle Fest. Cyclists of all ages got their bikes security tagged, learnt about cycle safety and went on bike rides up to 40km. Imogen Taylor, 11, from Abingdon said: “I like
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£1m war chest for the battle with cybercrime
OXFORD University will get £1m of investment in the next two years to fund a centre to tackle cybercrime. Funding for the Government’s Global Centre for Cyber Security Capacity Building has been announced by Foreign Secretary William Hague, who
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Lesson was too taxing
IN REPLY to the letter from John Clapton, (The Realities of Taxation, ViewPoints, April 16), I would like to point out one glaring mistake. That is the presumption that John Tanner, Labour councillor, could understand what was in the letter, let alone
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Collection aids the disabled
I would like to say thank you on behalf of the Wallingford and District Talking Newspaper to the people in Wallingford for their kind support during our street collection on Saturday, April 13. We raised £516.36 on the day. The Wallingford and District
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Heating is repaired at last
Thank you to the Oxford Mail for printing my letter (Too cold to see doctor, ViewPoints, March 4) and congratulations to Horspath Parish Council, who after all these very cold months have at last got the radiator in the village hall working, which
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Times have changed
HOW I agreed with Paul Duncan (ViewPoints, April 11) about people on benefits bemoaning the cuts. When I had my son in 1969 we lived in an old cottage with only a cold tap in an outhouse and until my plumber brother-in-law put in a hot tank, by
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Formerly beautiful site is utterly transformed
CAN I congratulate the university and the council planning department on an amazing transformation? Since I was a student here, I have used the Thames towpath from Osney, walking to either The Perch Inn at Binsey or The Trout at Wolvercote. It
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Pupils learn about drama from the pros
PUPILS have been learning about Shakespeare and theatre during a visit by a top drama company. Oxford High School will host a preview performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by renowned theatre director Iqbal Khan on Friday, the culmination
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ON YER BIKE: An annual fee that’s a pleasure to keep paying
It’s that time of year when everything seems to be renewing. Ducks are busy making ducklings, trees and shrubs are blossoming, oh and the dreaded council tax starts coming out of our bank accounts again. But there is one yearly renewal that comes
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LIFE LESSONS: Leadership of college is a source of great pride
WHAT I’M CALLED: Alice Prochaska (pronounced pro-harska). MY AGE: In my sixties. WHAT I DO: I am principal of Somerville College, Oxford. This means I am responsible for running a college of some 750 students (undergraduates and postgraduates
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We need new leadership
YES, it’s time for real change in Britain. We have seen so many promises go out the window by this Coalition and more U-turns than a learner driver. We need a government who will give us back our independence, who will get us out of the EU and
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Tax up as roads decline
IT came as no surprise that, when I went to re-tax my car recently, the duty had risen by another £10. If my vehicle ran on diesel fuel, I would have paid about £80 to £90 less. I am in fact being fined because of slightly greater emissions, as
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Precinct needs work
IT appears that the work on the redesigned precinct shopping centre in Abingdon has slowed down somewhat. It is a pity that they could not afford to improve shelter with a canopy. The area still needs to be made safer for cyclists – perhaps a fence
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Great Danes: Efterklang @ O2 Academy Oxford
Charlotte Krol is charmned by danish dreampop syndicate Efterklang CINEMATIC pop lot Efterklang are huge in their native of Denmark and it seems us Brits are pretty fond of them too. In fact, Oxford's very own Foals had them support their sold-out
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UPDATE: Fire crews continue to investigate conservatory blaze
FIREFIGHTERS are today still investigating the cause of a blaze which wrecked a Cowley conservatory. Crews were called to Burbush Road at 3.45pm yesterday. One female occupant was present but not injured.
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Footsteps charity hosts open day
The Footsteps Foundation is holding an open day on Saturday, May 11. The event will offer a chance to see the work the charity does providing physiotherapy for disabled children. The Footsteps Centre in Queen Street will be open from 10am and 3pm
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Breast cancer victim urges others to help charity
JUST days before her 29th birthday last year, Victoria Lyall was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now she is urging women to sign up to this year’s Pink Ribbon Walk and support the charity which is helping her stay strong in her ongoing fight with
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Soldier salutes the 25th year of charity
ONE of Britain’s bravest soldiers is backing a charity for people affected by brain injury. Headway Oxfordshire celebrated its 25th anniversary when Sgt Johnson Beharry, the youngest Victoria Cross recipient, unveiled an engraved milestone in Kennington
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Trial begins for man accused of attacking teen
The trial of a 25-year-old man accused of attacking a teenager is due to begin today at Oxford Crown Court. Sam Moscrop, of Swansfield, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, denies wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and wounding or inflicting
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Heritage hopes for city stadium
People are being consulted on the city’s Heritage Assets Register, which includes Oxford’s greyhound stadium. The empty stadium in Blackbird Leys has been nominated for inclusion on the register, which identifies buildings, parks and gardens that
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RUGBY UNION: Ellis has the last word for All Blacks
GOSFORD All Blacks’ full back Tim Ellis notched a personal tally of 20 points in his side’s 45-20 victory over Bicester in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division. Ellis bagged a try, six conversions and a penalty as Bicester paid the price
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RUGBY UNION: Oxon Under 20s reach national final
Oxfordshire beat Oxford University 28-15 in the Under 20 National Shield semi-final at Iffley Road and will face Eastern Counties in the final at Coventry on May 4. The Dark Blues led 15-6 going into the last quarter, but Oxon stormed back with
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RUGBY UNION: Banbury made to battle
BANBURY had to work hard to see off relegated Upton-on-Severn 28-5 in Midlands 2 West (South). Full back David Taylor made the breakthrough with a try converted by Peter Papenfus, and further converted tries followed before half-time from Chris
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Doorstep crime drops for second year
THE number of “doorstep crimes” involving rogue traders and cold callers who take advantage of householders has dropped in Oxfordshire for the second year running. For the year ending April 2013, figures show there were 400 incidents, compared
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Metal thefts plummet as police focus efforts
METAL thefts in Oxford plunged by 67 per cent last year, Thames Valley Police announced yesterday. The city saw 89 thefts between April 2012 and March 2013 compared with 268 the previous year, a drop of 66.8 per cent. Across the county metal
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RUGBY UNION: Blue Boar get the beers in!
BLUE Boar, the part-time pub side from Longworth, won the Oxfordshire Shield for the second time with a 20-13 win over Chipping Norton in the final at Iffley Road on Sunday. Chipping Norton, who play in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division
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RUGBY UNION: Grove book place in play-offs
Grove clinched their place in the play-offs with a handsome 50-24 victory over Milton Keynes in front of a big home crowd. The win secured second place in the Southern Counties North table and they now face Trowbridge from Southern Counties South
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RUGBY UNION: Witney lose, but avoid the drop
Witney went down 30-25 at fellow relegation candidates Cheltenham, but both stayed up at the expense of Bletchley. Cheltenham established an early lead with two tries, before a Henry Lamb penalty cut the gap to 12-3. A try from Louie Collins
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RUGBY UNION: Oxford Harlequins go down fighting
RELEGATED Oxford Harlequins lost 39-25 in National 3 South West at Barnstaple, but produced another improved performance that bodes well for the future. The pack dominated for long periods, but Quins could not convert the pressure into points.
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RUGBY UNION: Henley stay on course for title showdown
Henley Hawks made sure of a play-off place and remain firmly in the hunt for the National 2 South title with a ten-try 62-17 demolition of Dings Crusaders at Dry Leas. It was the fifth time this season they have registered ten tries or more.
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Crime tsars answer queries on policing in county
A RENEWED focus on rural crime in the Thames Valley will not see officers taken away from elsewhere, Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld has pledged. Mr Stansfeld appeared before members of Oxfordshire County Council’s safer and stronger
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Three-car crash on A34
A crash between three cars blocked one lane of the A34 southbound yesterday. Nobody was injured in the collision at 6.54am, just past Bury Lane at the West Ilsley turn-off.
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Inquest not yet opened over death of crash man, 96
The inquest into the death of a 96-year-old man who died following a collision in the town has not yet opened. He sustained a serious cut to the head after a reversing red Ford Ka collided with him in the Co-op car park in Albion Street at about
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RUGBY UNION: Henson in talks with Bath
Gavin Henson looks to be on his way out of London Welsh after Bath confirmed they are in talks to sign the former Wales international. The 31-year-old was the Exiles’ biggest name signing after securing promotion to the Aviva Premiership last summer
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RUGBY UNION: Chinnor cap perfect season with Oxon Cup
Chinnor maintained their dominant hold on the Oxfordshire Cup when they won a hard-earned 27-9 victory over Oxford University Greyhounds in the battle of the second strings at Iffley Road on Sunday. It’s the fourth year in a row that the trophy
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FOOTBALL: Ford won't rush Townsend back
Oxford City boss Mike Ford says he won’t rush Nick Townsend back from a knee problem, and risk not having a keeper for Wednesday week’s Oxfordshire Senior Cup final against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. The stopper, who is on loan from Birmingham
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THE QUIZ LEAGUE: Green Road going places
Unlucky not to have won the Oxford Division during the league campaign, the Green Road Club (Kidlington) are compensating by the bucketful in the post-season tabletops. Following on from their success in the ‘Rock and Pop’ a fortnight ago, last
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Bullfinch trial day 48
Good morning. Our coverage of the Bullfinch child sex abuse trial continues.
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Duberry to keep playing
Michael Duberry says he plans to carry on playing football next year – wherever that may be. The veteran defender has fought back from a serious neck operation last summer and was Oxford United’s captain in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Rochdale.
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Scheme calls for volunteer help in floods
VOLUNTEER flood wardens could act as liaisons between residents and emergency services following the problems seen in Oxfordshire late last year. That is one of the ideas being investigated by local authorities. In a report presented to Oxfordshire
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School's 150th birthday marked with special blessing
A CEREMONY marked 150 years of a leading Oxford independent school. St Edward’s chaplin Charlie Kerr held a blessing opposite the former New Inn Hall Street site on Sunday. A plaque was also unveiled on the school building, replacing one stolen
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Gun incident man charged
A man arrested in Bury Knowle Park has been charged with possessing a hand gun after an incident in Bristol. Shaun Taylor, 44, was arrested in Oxford on Friday after a gun was fired in Speedwell Road, Bristol, at about 9.30pm on Thursday. No one
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Mum of attack victim launches MEP bid
THE mother of a former Oxford United player attacked in Greece is a candidate to become a Labour MEP. Maggie Hughes campaigned for better protection for Britons abroad after her son Robbie Hughes almost died after the assault in 2008. The midfielder
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Primaries to take pupils at younger age
TWO Oxfordshire primary schools have been given the go-ahead to take younger children. Hill View in Banbury and St Peter’s in Cassington were both seeking to open a foundation stage unit for three-year-olds. Yesterday, Oxfordshire County Council
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Juror illness causes Bullfinch case delay
The Old Bailey trial of nine men accused of sexually exploiting vulnerable underage girls did not sit yesterday as a juror was sick. The Bullfinch case is expected to resume this morning. The defendants deny all the charges.
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Duke of Kent to open development at college
His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent will be coming to Oxford tomorrow to open Pembroke College’s new development. The Pembroke Square college has completed its £29m expansion project, which includes a 170-seat multi-purpose theatre, an art gallery
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New cafe serving up plenty of opportunity
INTERN Emma Hellyer is like any other young person who wants to work. But the 21-year-old from south Oxford faces difficulty getting experience because she has Down’s Syndrome. Now charity Yellow Submarine is setting out to tackle that problem
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Man accused of stabbing rival in mass brawl at traveller funeral
A TRAVELLER funeral descended into a mass brawl because of a 20-year feud between two families, a court heard. The violence broke out following an alleged stabbing at a service for 76-year-old gipsy matriarch Winnie Joyce on November 13 last year
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Always a reason to celebrate with Malbec
There appears to be a day to celebrate all kinds of weird and wonderful things. January 13th was rubber ducky day. Thousands of the little yellow bath friends floated down international waters brightening up a dull January. International Pillow fight
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HOCKEY: Fledgling Hawks impress in defeat
THE season ended with defeat for Oxford Hawks 1st, but there were plenty of reasons for encouragement in their 2-0 defeat at home to high-flying Chichester in South League Premier Division 1. With several players unavailable the home side took
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HOCKEY: Beth is spot on in narrow victory
A LATE penalty strike from Beth Cammegh saw Bicester Ladies 2nd beat Henley 3rd 1-0 in their penltimate Trysports 3-Counties League Division 2 fixture. Only goal difference separated the sides in mid-table before the game, so it was not surprising
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Gannett Foundation provides a buoyant future
IT is hard to say the phrase “Yellow Submarine” without smiling. And it is exactly that spirit that the new social enterprise cafe in Park End Street hopes to spread. We are pleased to see such a worthy project get underway thanks to a £10,800
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Nappy challenge has an environmental message
THE times they are a-changing. Forty mums in Kidlington joined in an attempt to break the world record for the most cloth nappies changed across the globe in one clean sweep. The international Great Cloth Diaper Change was part of an effort
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Pulling together to save historic bells
THEIR glorious chimes have rung out for more than 600 years. But the North Moreton All Saints church bells could fall silent forever if they are not repaired. A committee has been formed tasked with raising £50,000 so that repairs can be carried
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Back up work with harsher sentences
METAL theft has been the scourge of Oxfordshire over the past few years. It has been a difficult problem to tackle, with thefts taking place often in isolated and remote areas. But it seems we are now starting to win the battle. And it is not
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Music fans treated to Present from indie legends
MUSIC lovers were given a special present this weekend. Cowley Road’s Truck Store hosted an all-day gig, headlined by indie rock legends The Wedding Present, to celebrate Record Store Day on Saturday. After the gig, audience member Dave Robson
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Heroin found in flowerpot
A MAN has been jailed after £4,000 worth of heroin was found hidden under a flowerpot at an Oxford guest house. Nathaniel Merchant, of no fixed address, admitted one count of possessing a Class A drug with intent to supply. He was arrested